History of New Rockford: January 11, 2021

On Oct. 9-10 [postponed from 2 to 3], 1903, the FEW Tri-County Teachers’ Association met in Fessenden. Several teachers drove over for the meeting. Eddy County participants included a discussion of psychology and education with New Rockford principal Robert T. Muir; Miss May H. Young of New Rockford presenting “Organization of a School and Value of Daily Program”; a discussion of “The Value and Selection of Seat Work” led by Miss Olive Saunders of New Rockford.

On Oct. 10, R.U. Austin, William Bucklin, James Hamilton, J.L. Kinnaird, A.J. Larkin, J.M. Mulvey and John Swanson went hunting in eastern Eddy County; they returned on Oct. 12 with “a big load of game,” including waterfowl, a water snipe, and a jackrabbit. Rev. E.T. Quam returned to Sheyenne after visiting Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Norah O’Connell returned from her claim near Anamoose; she would visit her parents for a couple weeks and then go home to Minneapolis. Real estate agent John Cockerill went to St. Paul and returned two days later with a blooded Norman trotting stallion purchased by his partner Mr. Streeter from the Rochelle, Ill., Stock Farms. At 8:30 p.m. there was a box social and program at the Tiffany School with proceeds to help the Tiffany Ladies’ Aid Society. Col. Seth Bailey auctioned off the boxes. The Roush Quartette sang, and Miss Amy Crane and Miss Elsie Tarbell provided instrumental music. Rev. Taylor presented a gift to Mrs. H.C. Tarbell for her work on behalf of the Society. That evening the Christian Endeavor hosted a crokinole party in the Congregational Church; everyone was invited. A large number of young people attended.

That afternoon Albert O. Tolman and Mrs. Selma Anderson were married by Rev. J.R. Beebe; on Oct. 12 they left for their new home at Nimrod, Minn. Also that afternoon in the Congregational parsonage Rev. J.R. Beebe married Charles Gad and Celia Ehler, both of McHenry; on Oct. 12 they left for their home near that community.

On Sunday, Oct. 11, Barlow real estate agent J.R. Engberg and Carrington dentist Alexander were in New Rockford. J.A. Hohl and Miss Jennie VanHorn were guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Wren southeast of town. At 7:30 p.m. Rev. Taylor of Tiffany preached in the New Rockford Methodist Church.

On Oct. 12, the winter term began at the Columbia School. At the district court in Carrington, in the case of E. Delafield Smith vs. H. Peoples and the Northern Pacific Railway over the assignment of a land contract, the court held that there could be no attachment of a judgment [there was no indication which side won]. Jacob Valer of the Guler district and Morris postmaster D.D. Dailey were in on business and to visit. O.O. Walden came down from the Sheyenne Valley on business. John Hogan was in from Tiffany. Mr. and Mrs. James B. Dafoe of Sheyenne were in town shopping. Miss Jet Richter took the train from Sheyenne to Jamestown to visit friends. Theo. R. Quam returned to Sheyenne after visiting his aunt in Ada, Minn. Stonemason Gus Lauch went to Barlow to begin work on the foundation of the new school. Painter John Anderson went to Barlow on business. Frank Pottner was in Carrington. At 8 p.m. Rev. E.W. Burleson of Grace Church in Jamestown held Episcopal services in the Baptist Church. That night Mrs. N. Nordin of Sheyenne was taken seriously ill; Dr. Bartley was out of town, so Mrs. E.T. Quam was called in to nurse her until his return. At the end of the week, she was better.

On Oct. 13, general merchant L.B. Garnaas of Sheyenne and Peter Hallquist were in New Rockford. Peter Dodds came in on business. Rev. and Mrs. E.T. Quam were down from Sheyenne so she could see dentist F.D. Norton. Ferd Brueske returned from Wimbledon. T.H. Cousins was in looking over his elevator business. F.A. Rising, vice president of the First National Bank, came in from Winona, Minn., accompanied by his sons, as the guest of Cashier and Mrs. James E. Hyde. They left for Fessenden on Oct. 14. Rising was also the secretary of the Winona Savings Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Ackerman went to Minneapolis, where she would undergo medical treatment at St. Luke’s Hospital; he returned on Oct. 22, saying the operation was successful and his wife was recovering rapidly. That evening the Congregational Ladies’ Social Union hosted a Harvest Home supper at Brown’s Opera House; a large crowd enjoyed the food. Twenty-five cents purchased hot baked beans, steamed cornbread, rolls, smashed potatoes, meats, cakes, “and other viands.” The event went from 5:30 p.m. until all were served. Also that evening, 18 couples enjoyed an impromptu dance in the Hotel Davies dining room.

On Oct. 13 and 14, hardwareman H. Arveskaug was in Brinsmade.

On Oct. 14 Kellington & McDonell turned on the steam in their roller mill for the first time and it worked “perfectly.” Charles Culp and crew began work on a 28x46, 1½ story house on Stimson Avenue West for Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pake. Tiffany farmer H.J. Row came in on business. Mrs. G.W. Johnston came in to shop. Henry Smith left for Fargo; his wife would join him in a few days; Fargo would be their new home. Robert Walden left for Flagstaff, Arizona Territory, where his son Harry, suffering from lung trouble, was much worse; Walden would not return to Eddy County, but go to his home in the Northwest Territories, Canada. That evening flames consumed Axtle Johnson’s big Minneapolis separator an hour after the day’s work was finished; a smoldering spark was seen as the probable cause. Insurance covered the loss.

From the evening of Oct. 14 to Oct. 16, Carrington banker P.J. Hester was up on business; Mrs. Hester arrived on Oct. 15 to visit and returned with her husband.

Sealed bids were received until 10 a.m. Oct. 15 for hauling 60 cords of rock furnished by Phillips Academy; sealed bids would also be received for excavating the basement of the Academy. John F. Goss was the secretary of the executive committee of the Academy board of trustees. Bauer & Larkin got the bid for the rock hauling and E. Starks the bid for the excavating.

That day County Surveyor E.T. Quam surveyed the ground for the Phillips Academy. J.W. Richter returned to Sheyenne from St. Paul, where he had sold a carload of cattle. Miss Kathryn “Katie” Conn of Keokuk, Iowa, arrived to visit her cousin H.G. Hudson and his wife. Mrs. E.S. Severtson and Miss June returned from Minnesota, accompanied by Mrs. Severtson’s cousin Miss Addie Storer of Shakopee; Miss Storer stayed until Dec. 2. Christ Fahrner was in from the Superior district on business. That evening there was a large crowd at the production of the “Messenger Boy” in the Opera House.